“Calm down, girl. You are much too responsible all the time and adding that to the nerves of tonight. You’re rattling on about stress for another day.”
Lily smiled, but knew her friend could never understand. They’d graduated from University of Colorado together and Wynette had taken a job in public relations with the Coors’ facility in town then started pursuing her dreams of being a chef. Her parents had paid for her college and insisted she get a regular education and a steady paying job then she could go to culinary school at nights.
Lily was thrilled to keep rooming with her friend, but Wynette had a four-person, normal-sized family where both parents had professional jobs and a gorgeous home in Boulder. What did she know about scrimping and saving to help your family out?
“What if tonight makes things awkward or he fires me?” Lily wondered out loud. “I should not have said yes.”
“Again—calm down just cal-lm down.” Wynette said in a voice that made Lily laugh. “That’s better. You’ve gotten along great so far, right?”
Lily bit her lip again and nodded. She liked everything about Hyde Metcalf and not just because he was an amazing athlete and she and Josh had followed his career for the past several years. Obsessing over Hyde Metcalf had been their sibling bonding thing. She was the oldest and Josh was the youngest with five in between them and she’d been gone from the house since he was two. They’d taken to talking every week after the Storm game and analyzing the game and the players and they both had an infatuation with Hyde. Her infatuation was just growing as she got to know the famous player better. If only she could tell Josh about Hyde, or even better, have him meet Hyde. Her little buddy would go nuts.
“Well, then, just hit it off more.” Wynette winked.
“Wynette,” Lily groaned. “He’s my client.”
“Forget that client crap and just go have a fun night.” She expertly applied eyeliner, shadow, and fixed Lily’s lipstick.
The doorbell rang and Lily’s stomach plummeted.
“You’re smokin’,” Wynette said, pushing her out of the bathroom and toward the front door.
Lily took a few unsteady steps, but Wynette grabbed her arm and jerked her back.
“Wait!” Wynette cried out. “I answer the door and get to talk to him for at least a few seconds, maybe squeeze one of those biceps just to see if they’re for real, then you come in and make your grand entrance.”
Lily rolled her eyes, but turned back to her bedroom, found the little purse thing Wynette had told her she could use and slipped into some low-cut heeled boots. She laughed nervously when she realized she’d almost gone to the door with no shoes. She glanced over her reflection in the mirror, liking the way the pencil skirt and boots showed off her calf muscles. The blousy teal shirt made the skirt more fun than professional and looked good with her naturally tan skin. Would Hyde think she was pretty all dressed up?
“Come in,” Wynette squeaked. “I’m Wynette Pratt.”
“Nice to meet you, Wynette. Hyde Metcalf.”
“I know that.” Wynette twittered nervously.
Lily thought it was time to save Hyde. She strode out into the living room. Wynette honestly had a hold of one of Hyde’s biceps and he was glancing down at her with concern in his eyes. Probably wondering if she was crazy. Hyde was dressed in a button-down shirt untucked over Levis. His dark hair was a little longer on top and styled nicely and she could see why his face was on so many magazines. She gave a breathless sigh. He looked really, impossibly good.
He glanced up and his mouth opened slightly. His eyes trailed down her body then back up to her face. “Lily,” he murmured. “You look amazing.” He stepped away from Wynette and offered Lily a bouquet of daisies.
His hand brushed hers and she tingled from his touch and sighed from the smoky look in his eyes. Tonight could be amazing, or she might just get fired. She was much too interested and they hadn’t even made it out of the door, but she would kick her own rear if she lost this boost of money that could help her siblings.
“How did you know?” she murmured, clutching the flowers.
“Know?”
“That I love daisies and could go my entire life without getting another lily.”
He chuckled. “Lucky guess.”
“Really?”
“No. My agent researched it and supposedly daisies are a good, safe bet for a girl you like a lot but don’t know very well …. yet.”
He didn’t just say that. How in the world was she going to keep anything professional if he said things like that and looked this good?
Wynette placed a hand on her heart. “Oh, my. I think I’ve just fallen in love.”
Lily shot her a look. “Let me put these in water quick.”
Wynette stole them from her. “I’ve got them. You two go—shoo.” She clucked her tongue and shooed them like a bunch of chickens or something.
Lily clung to her clutch thingy and took the hand Hyde offered. He squeezed her hand and she felt warm all over. He gestured to the various pictures of the beach and ocean decorating their white walls. “The beach.”
She nodded. They walked out the door. “Bye, Wynette,” she called back.
“Have fun!”
“Thanks.”
“I thought you’d never been to the beach,” Hyde said.
“Doesn’t mean I don’t like it,” she said.
“Maybe I could take you sometime.”
“Oh, please don’t.” Her face burned red. Had she just asked him to not take her on a vacation she’d dreamed about her entire life?
“Don’t what?” He jerked to a stop and turned to look at her.
“You don’t need to offer to do something unreal like that when I know you really don’t mean it.”
He started to talk but she stopped him.
“Hey. I have no problem with you being this wealthy mega-stud, but honestly we’re not even close to a spot where you offer to take me to the beach for the day. Please don’t throw your money around like that. I think you’re awesome because you’re a chill, stand-up guy, and talented to boot. You don’t need to make that generous offer just because I’ve never been to the beach and you could take us there in an hour on your chartered jet. It’s okay. Let’s just do dinner and have a fun night.” She held her breath, not sure what she’d just rambled on about or how he would respond. She did know she had to slow him down. Her fears of losing her paycheck kept compounding. Work and romance were not a mix she’d ever done or ever wanted to do before now.
He gave a surprised grunt, pushing a hand through his hair. “So what if I want to throw my money around?”
She shrugged, embarrassed she’d told him off. He was still her client and she didn’t want to offend him, even if the idea of going to the beach with him sounded like a hot fudge brownie sundae with sprinkles and whipped cream.
“That’s your choice, but can we just … be two people going to dinner tonight?” she asked.
“We can try it.” He cleared his throat. “Just so you’re warned. Golden is a pretty great town in that some of the people knew me from growing up so I don’t get as much gawking or pictures taken of me, but it still happens. If you’re not okay having your picture splayed all over magazines and the Internet, we can order takeout.”
Lily imagined her family’s shock, heck, the shock of the entire town of Georgetown if she ended up in some celebrity magazine. None of them would believe it was her. “I don’t care. I don’t know enough people around here for it to matter and my family would just be thinking it was rocking cool.”
“Rocking cool?” Hyde arched an eyebrow.
“Yep. You’re a superstar to all of them so I’d be like your starlet or something.” Dangit, that wasn’t slowing things down. This was a tough balance.
“I’ll take you as my starlet.” The awkward moment from earlier dissipated as he chuckled and led her to his sport utility vehicle. Lily thought it looked nice but she had no clue what make or model it was. That was her
younger sister, Mary’s, job to know those kinds of things. She knew muscles and the set of muscles next to her right now had her quivering.
He opened her door and she was too close as he turned to assist her into the car. His chest brushed against her arm. Lily’s eyes widened and her breath shortened. Hyde froze, staring down at her. His eyes flitted to her lips.
Swallowing hard, Lily tried to back away, but bumped into the car. She gave an uncharacteristic giggle and couldn’t remember why she was supposed to stay professional in this situation.
Hyde lifted a long curl from her shoulder and gently rubbed it between his fingers. The air seemed to electrify between them. “Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?” he murmured, taking a step closer.
Lily was pinned against the car in the most wonderful way she could imagine. Hyde’s strong body pressed against her. She couldn’t catch a full breath and didn’t know if she was going to have a panic attack or simply attack him.
“I, um, you look fabulous too. Big step up from being sweaty and stinky.” Now that was adding to the moment like she’d never heard.
“You don’t ever stink.” His low voice rumbled through his chest and she could feel it against hers. Oh, my, amazing chest and amazing sensation.
“Really? Because I swear sometimes it’s like I’ve worn my workout clothes so often they stink before I even start sweating. OxiClean is supposed to help with that. Is that what your mom uses, because you always smell like clean laundry and sometimes that hint of your musky cologne.” Which cologne she was inhaling right now and it was messing with her brain waves.
Hyde looked amused at her. Lily wasn’t sure anything could kill a moment like talking about your own sweat and laundry detergent. He stepped back and she caught a full breath before slipping into the car.
Whew. That was a bullet dodged. Sadly, she’d never wanted to be in the bullet’s path quite so much.
They had been served their salads and dinner at the Old Capitol Grill and Hyde was still smarting that she’d started rambling about laundry right when he wanted to kiss her and she seemed to have no desire to go to the beach with him. He wanted to ask her about it again. Why not? What was it about him that didn’t warrant a trip to the beach? Did she not think she deserved it? What? Man, she was an odd girl, but he liked her far too much.
“How are your ribs?” Lily asked, tucking a lock of dark hair behind her ear.
“Really good. The salmon?”
“Perfect.”
Oh, he hated this. He thought they’d become comfortable with each other the past week. Her yelling at him in the gym. Him taking it and working hard. The easy banter as they teased back and forth and then the fun time they’d had on the river today. Now they were on their first real date and he wanted to make it amazing so next time he asked there’d be no talk about her not dating a client. Yet here they were talking about the food, it seemed worse than talking about the weather.
“So, you’re from Georgetown?” He tried again.
She’d already told him she was from Georgetown. Oh, pathetic try, Hyde. This conversation could only go downhill from here. He was so bad at this. He used to think he was quite the charismatic ladies’ man in college and his rookie year they’d been all over him, but then he grew up a little bit and realized the women only wanted him because he was famous. He still dated his fair share, but he was more cautious who he asked out.
He’d gotten out of the scene the past few months with his and his mom’s illnesses and he didn’t like being rusty. Maybe he just needed to take Lily’s hand and stare deeply into her eyes. That used to work back in college. Back when life was simple and he wasn’t a celebrity. Crap. He was reverting to college tactics.
“Yes.” She pushed the rice around on her plate. The sad droop to her lips told him she also knew this night was a failure. Was it going to be awkward to train together next week? Why had he tried to push their relationship out of that good zone? Just because she was local and he could actually make a date happen without leaving his mom alone for too long, or was it because her eyes were sparkly and her hair was shiny and her figure was amazing and she made him laugh and she had grit. Okay. He was taking this way too far on the worrying scale.
“So your family is still there? In Georgetown?”
“Yes.”
Oh, my, this was lame.
“How many in your family?” He picked up his knife to butter a roll.
“Nine.”
The knife dropped. “Nine! What on earth were your parents thinking?”
Lily giggled then she chuckled then she laughed so hard tears were streaming out of her eyes.
Hyde didn’t think she’d laugh that hard if he’d offended her, but he honestly was not sure.
“Seven children, so it’s not quite as bad as it sounds.” She wiped her eyes with her napkin and shook her head. “You just don’t know how many times I asked my parents that very question as a teenager.”
He nodded to encourage her to continue sharing. Maybe they or the night weren’t a lost cause. He sure hoped so and not just because training would be awkward after this.
“I’m the oldest and we never had any money for anything extra and I mean anything. Our vacations were climbing one of the mountains near our house or going fishing and being thrilled that we’d helped out the family food budget.”
Wow. The flood gates had opened and she was really sharing.
She smiled wistfully. “But it was kind of great too.”
Hiking and fishing with a big family sounded great.
“I always had some sibling to talk to or hug or do something with. My youngest brother is eight and he is stinking hilarious. He idolizes you.”
“Smart kid. I like him already.”
“He would be in heaven to just meet you. Seriously, it would probably be awkward and he would just stare at you with his mouth open.”
Hyde smiled at the image. “I’ve done awkward a lot.”
Her mouth pursed and she took a sip of water and then quickly rattled off, “How about you go to Sunday dinner with me tomorrow?” Her eyes widened as if she’d realized what she said. “I mean, wow. That would be fabulous if you came, but if you don’t want to you don’t have to. I can’t believe I just invited Hyde Metcalf to Sunday dinner at the crazy Udy house.”
Hyde laughed, took her hand, and he did his best to stare deeply into her eyes and hope it looked sexy. “So I can’t fly you to the beach tomorrow because that’s too personal, but I can go eat Sunday dinner?”
She bit at her lip and arched up one shoulder. He really liked the definition in her arms, but he could sense she was going to rescind the invitation if he didn’t act quickly. “Will the main course be fish that someone in the family caught?”
“Oh.” She laughed. “Probably. You like trout?”
“What time shall I pick you up?”
Lily impulsively leaned out of her chair and hugged him. Hyde was surprised, but he leaned in and savored the smell of her sweet perfume that reminded him of his mom’s flower gardens, and how tight the muscles of her shoulders were yet her skin was still smooth and soft under his fingers.
“Thank you!” She pulled back and simply beamed at him. He’d never seen her so lit up. “You don’t know what this will mean to Josh.”
“Your brother?” The brother was the key. This was the first time she’d really dropped her “let’s keep it professional” act. For her brother, maybe, but he didn’t care. He was going to Sunday dinner with Lily.
“Yes. Honestly this is going to be better than Christmas. I hope you’re ready to be idolized.”
Hyde poked out his chest. “Never minded being idolized.”
“I hope not because you think I’m an ardent fan? Holy cow. Josh puts me to shame. I’ll tell my mom I’m bringing a friend so she has enough food.” Her face flared red at that, but she continued quickly, “But I won’t tell her who and we’ll just waltz in there and oh.” She clapped her hands together. “Thank you
. This is just the coolest thing you could ever do for me.”
Hyde loved this exuberance. Whatever barrier she’d put up between them was gone. “Better than the beach?” he asked.
“A million times.”
They finished their dinner and he took her home. She gave him a quick hug and a thank you on the doorstep. Hyde was tempted to go for a kiss, but he didn’t know that this was his moment. He was making some little guy’s dreams come true tomorrow. He hoped he would live up to the kid’s expectations. He really hoped he would live up to Lily’s.
Chapter 7
Lily wasn’t sure if she should be more concerned about losing Hyde’s training contract if he became overwhelmed or offended by something one of her siblings might say or do, or thrilled that he was doing this for her family. She still couldn’t believe she’d gotten caught up in the moment and asked him to Sunday dinner. Nuts, but how cool was Hyde that he’d accepted?
The ride up the mountain to her secluded hometown was fun. Hyde asked lots of questions and Lily found herself telling him all kind of stories about growing up with seven children and how great the small town life was, especially the bakery in town that was simply called, Cake. The owner, Annie, would give them day-old cookies or cupcakes and it was sheer heaven to Lily.
He took it all in with a smile and follow-up questions that she thought meant he was interested and not just humoring her.
Twenty minutes into the drive, he reached over and took her hand in his. Lily hoped she didn’t jolt. She loved the pressure of his large hand covering hers and the warmth of his touch. Would her family think they were a couple? Oh, that her life could be that good and that simple. She couldn’t be a couple with Hyde. Not yet at least.
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